Telephone answering system and apparatus for direct caller selection of a party line extension

• US 5,086,458 A
• Filed: 10/02/1989
• Issued: 02/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Product Engineering & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Product Engineering & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Bowen, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/415,852
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 379/165, 379/180, 379/179, 379/182, 379/373
• US Class Current: 379/180
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/02 involving a common line for all parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 5/12 using combinations of frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel

Abstract

With a plug-in tone responsive unit at each extension, a central answering unit responds to a caller initiated, telephone company generated, ring signal on the telephone line and establishes a connection with the calling phone. Each of the remote units responds to a different predetermined tone frequency. When the caller pushes a key on a standard Touch Tone phone key pad to select a specific extension, the responding remote unit generates a ringing signal for that extension.

Claims

1. A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system for use with telephone extensions connected in parallel on a line, comprising in combination;

means for coupling said remote unit to said line;

means for coupling a telephone extension to said remote unit;

means to detect a plurality of different caller generated tones;

means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said remote unit;

means for generating a ring signal; and

means to couple said ring signal to said telephone extension coupling means in response to detection of a tone selected by said selection means.

2. A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system for use with telephone extensions connected in parallel on a line, comprising in combination;

means for coupling said remote unit to said line;

means for coupling a telephone extension to said remote unit;

means to detect a plurality of different caller generated tones;

means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said remote unit;

means for generating a ring signal;

means to couple said ring signal to said telephone extension coupling means in response to detection of a tone selected by said selection means; and

means to inhibit response to said plurality of tones if said line has an on-hook status signal thereon.

3. A remote unit for an automated telephone answering system as claimed in claim 2 further including

an off-hook detector for detecting an off-hook condition of an extension coupled to said extension coupling means;

means to generate a tone; and

means to couple said tone to said line for a short interval after an initial off-hook condition of said extension is detected.

4. An automated telephone answering system for telephone extensions coupled in parallel on a line, comprising in combination;

a central unit for responding to incoming calls;

means for coupling each of said units to said line;

a plurality of remote units;

means for coupling each of said units to said line;

means to couple a telephone extension to each of said remote units;

said remote units each having means to detect a plurality of caller generated tones;

said remote units each having means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said each remote unit;

each of said remote units including ring signal generating means; and

each of said remote units including means to couple said ring signal generating means to an extension coupled thereto in response to a tone for which it has been selected to respond.

5. An automated telephone answering system as claimed in claim 4 further including

means to inhibit response to said plurality of tones if said line has an on-hook status signal thereon.

6. An automated telephone answering system as claimed in claim 4 further including

an off-hook detector for detecting an off-hook condition of an extension coupled to said extension coupling means;

means to generate a tone; and

means to couple said tone to said line for a short interval after an initial off-hook condition of said extension is detected.

7. An automated telephone answering system for telephone extensions coupled in parallel on a line, comprising in combination;

a central unit for responding to incoming calls;

means for coupling said unit to said line;

a plurality of remote units;

means for coupling each of said units to said line;

means to couple a telephone extension to each of said remote units;

central unit means for sending a tone to a caller in response to an incoming call;

means for coupling each of said remote units in parallel to said line independently of said central unit;

said remote units each having means to detect a plurality of caller generated tones;

said remote units each having means to select at least one of said generated tones for response by said each remote unit;

each of said remote units including ring signal generating means; and

each of said remote units including means to couple said ring signal generating means to an extension coupled thereto in response to a tone for which it has been selected to respond.